Carol Stream, Illinois to Joliet, Illinois

Woke this morning to frost on the lawn. Waited for things to warm up a bit while Jo Ann prepared a hardy breakfast of pancakes and bacon. Thanks, Jo Ann. That breakfast really hit the spot. By the time the breakfast dishes were cleared most of the chill had burned off. So, I loaded up the bike, said goodbye and thanks, and was off shortly after 8:30 AM.

Today was a pretty good day. Did 39.5 miles, pulling up to the entrance of Harrah’s Casino and Resort in Joliet around 2:30 PM. Not too bad considering how out of shape I am. I was pretty strong for the first 10 miles or so, but by mile 20 my legs were weary and I was feeling it. And the wind that was supposed to be at my back most of the day had shifted around to the west-southwest. Though not directly in my face, it had enough of a southerly component to make me work harder for every yard I pedaled.

Anyway, although I rode a couple fairly long bike trails today … the Great Western Trail and about 8 miles of the historic Illinois and Michigan Canal Tow Path … a good portion of today’s miles were spent working my way through neighborhood side streets and along and across the busy thoroughfares of Naperville, Bollingbrook, and other large southwest Chicago suburbs. Thankfully, when I leave Joliet tomorrow morning, I’ll be leaving that Chicagoland urban sprawl behind and heading into the quiet rural lands of Illinois corn country.

Anyway, tonight I’m staying in the casino’s hotel. There are more frost warnings out for the area so expect when I leave early tomorrow, it’ll be a little chilly. The winds are also supposed to swing around to the south-southwest and be a little gusty, so not sure how far I’ll get before calling it a day. I’m going to try for Braidwood but might pull up short and instead spend the night in a motel next to the Gemini Giant in Willmington. As delightful sounding as sleeping in the shadow of a giant Route 66 landmark sounds, I’d like to get to Braidwood if only to stay in the same rundown roadside motel John Candy and Steve Martin did in “Trains, Plains, and Automobiles.”